Toy parachute



March 29, 1960 c, w LARSON 2,930,555

TOY PARACHUTE Filed March 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Shee t 1 INVENTOR. CAM. W, LARSON March 29, 1960 c. w. LARSON TOY PARACHUTE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1958 INVENTOR. CARL IV. LARSON United States Patent 2,930,555 TOY PARACHUTE Carl W. Larson, Aurora, Colo. Application March 10, 1958, Serial No. 720,232 6 Claims. (Cl. 244-455).

This invention relates broadly to the class of toys and more particularly to a toy parachute for use in connection with a kite.

operate unfailingly in the hands of a child as the ultimate user.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved toy parachute and releasing device which avoids one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements and is virtually foolproof.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide an improved toy parachute carrier and release device which will automatically release the parachute at a predetermined elevation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toy parachute and release device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture yet ruggedly constructed to withstand frequent and repeated use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved toy parachute and release device which will automatically release the parachute at a predetermined point along the kite string regardless of the lack of care with which the parachute is positioned on the kite string.

In accordance with the invention, the toy parachute and release device are to be used together in association with a kite and kite string and are seen to comprise a toy parachute having guide means connected to the shroud lines at the apex thereof adapted to operatively engage the kite string in a secured movable relationship along the length thereof, together with release means adapted to be connected into the kite string and to automatically disengage the guide means from the kite string at a predetermined point.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the appli cation of the present invention to a kite string;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the parachute of the invention with parts broken away to conserve space;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the parachute of Figure 2 showing the guide means;

Figure 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of the release means of Figure 1 showing the relative positioning of the guide means with the release means in dotted lines at the point of release;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the guide means and release means at the point of release;

Patented Mar. 29, 1960 Figure 7 is a plan view of one form of release means as shown in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of another form of the release means; v

Figure 9 is an elevation of the release means of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken along line '1010 of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a side elevation partly in section, of another form of the release means according to this invention.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the present invention comprises two units which are to be used in connection with a kite and kite string of any suitable form. These two units are generally identified by letters P and R and comprise respectively a toy parachute constructed of any suitable light weight material such as light paper, cloth or plastic and a release device which is connected into the kite string and preferably located therein in the immediate vicinity of the kite; It is seen in Figure 1 how the units are combined for use with holes 26 are provided in diagonally opposite corners of the plate. A rod 28 of lesser diameter than holes 26 is positioned wlthin each of the holes and movably secured therefrom. As seen in Figure 6 rods 28 may conveniently comprise a cotter pin and the like provided with a string receiving loop 30 at one end thereof with the other end spread to prevent escape of the rods from the holes. In use the ends of the separated kite string are attached to rods 28 as by passing'through loops 3% and tying securely. I

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the parachute P is seen to be comprised of a canopy 32 of a light weight material, such as the like. A pluend thereof to canopy 32 at spaced points around the periphery thereof by suitable means such as by gluing and the like, as shown at 36 in Figure 4. The other .tate movement of pulley 52 thereover.

Since plate'24 may tip to either side of the string, it is immaterial Whether wire 46 of guide element 41 is placed on one side of string 22 or the other. In either placement, a positive releasing action of the parachute is achieved. It is to be noted that the central portion of release means R is of a width greater than the top of the V-groove of pulley 52 to effect positive release thereof.

The release device R may also be shaped of metal or a thermo-plastic in a manner shown in Figures 8, 9 and 1 0. Another form is shown by Figure 11. The release device of these figures is seen to comprise a plate 62 having a central V bend 64 with each leg of the V hav ing outwardly projecting ears 66 provided with holes 68 for attachment of kite string 22. Ears 66 may conveniently be provided with a convex upper surface to facili- The release device of Figure ll'is similar in shape, but with the ears pinched as at 70 and provided with horizontal holes 72 for receiving string 22.

Although the above-described embodiments disclose the invention as applied to a parachute, it is to be understood that the invention may also be employed in connection with other flying type toys which present sufficient surface area to be propelled up a kite string by the available breeze. Such toys may be in the form of toy gliders and the like. While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. It is aimed therefore 'in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true'spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy comprising in combination: a parachute, guide means depending therefrom adapted to engage a kite string and release means adapted to be connected thereinto in depending relation to efiect disengagement of the guide means and attached parachute from the string comprising a generally V-shaped member with upstanding legs thereof adapted to be attached into the kite string and a central portion of substantial width as compared with the width of the guide means depending from the legs and positioned sutiiciently below the. string to locate the center of gravity of said release means substantially below a string connected thereto.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the guide means comprises a V-groove pulley and the central portion of the generally V-shaped release means is of a width greater than the width of the top of the V- groove of said pulley.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the release means is comprised of a flat rectangular central portion having a pair of upwardly extending rods attached at diagonally opposed-corners thereof and flared outwardly from the corners forming a generally V-shaped structure and said rods being provided with means remote of the fiat portion adapted to receive and secure an end of the kite string.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the release means is comprised of an elongated sheet of a material adapted to be shaped, shaped in a V-shape with the legs thereof having an outwardly projecting ear and each ear is provided with an opening therein adapted to receive and secure an end of the kite string.

5. As anew article of manufacture, a release device for releasing toys from a kite string comprising a flat rectangular plate having a pair of upwardly extending rods attached at diagonally opposte corners and flared outwardly from the corners to form a generally V-shaped structure with each of said rods being provided with means remote of, said plate adapted to receive and secure an end of a kite string, 'the plate being positioned sufficiently below the string receiving means to locate the center, of gravity of said release means substantially below a string connected thereto.

6( A toy comprising in combination, aparachute having a canopy, a plurality of semi-rigid shroud lines attached at one end thereto, a rectangular plate with the other end of the shroud lines connected to the corners of the rectangular plate and guide means depending centrally from said plate comprising a V-groove pulley mounted for rotation about an axis normal to said plate and adapted to operatively engage a kite string in a se-' cured movable relation along the length thereof and release means adapted to be connected into the kite string to automatically disengage the guide means from the kite string at a predetermined point comprising a flat rectangular plate having a pair of upwardly extending rods attached at diagonally opposite corners and flared outwardly from the corners to form a generally V-shaped structure with each of said rods being provided with means remote of said plate adapted to receive and secure an end of a kite string, the plate being positioned sufliciently below the string receiving means to locate the center of gravity of said release means substantially below a string connected thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 876,690 Carroll Jan. 14, 's 923,181 Jackson June 1, 1909 1,466,194 Schwartz Aug. 28, 1923 

